Sometimes you’re just going to blow it – no matter what you do or how hard you work, for some reason you’re going to blow an audition. There are many reasons for it. Fear of success, fear of failure, not enough sleep, not enough focus, intimidation, personality conflict with the casting director, whatever.

Focus is the operative word here. Before an audition, try to gear yourself up for it. Try to work out at the gym or take a walk. You could sing real loud to get your voice happening. And listen to music to relax. Leave in plenty of time to get to your audition. And sometimes, you can do all of this and still blow it.

It is okay to be human. You wouldn’t want to lose that human side. Maybe you didn’t give the performance you wanted them to see, but they could have liked it anyway. Who knows? No one! Cease all second-guessing now! On to the next audition … work to make the next one better!

Little Fish in a Big Pond – a support guide for actors, is a column on the Actors Reporter, a site on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.